Gympie’s Mary Valley Rattler will steam across Australian screens after the World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys airs on SBS TV on Thursday 22 December at 7.35pm, and then available at any time on SBS on Demand.
The fifth series went to air in July on the UK’s Channel 5, and was watched by 1.5 million people, and was then released globally, providing the iconic Mary Valley Rattler with an estimated audience of over 20 million.
Famed actor Bill Nighy narrates the episode as cameras follow the Rattler through the verdant Mary Valley landscape.
The film crew spent more than two days filming the historic Rattler and the surrounding Gympie and Mary Valley region, including the village of Amamoor.
The crew also went in pursuit of platypus, which are to be found in the Mary River.
The Mary Valley Rattler joins many of the world’s most famous rail journeys and was selected because of its rich history and the spectacular landscape the train traverses.
The program synopsis says: “It’s a chance to stop off and travel back in time. It was gold that brought the railways to Gympie, and the Mary Valley Rattler offers a chance to experience Queensland as it was in the pioneering days, as we join a train pulled by a 1920s’ C17 loco, No967, one of 182 built in Queensland. It will pull us high into the Amamoor National Park where we’ll spend some time with one of Australia’s strangest beasts. The duck billed platypus – a mammal that lays eggs.”
Channel 5’s commissioning editor, Daniel Pearl, has described the series as “a beautiful and indulgent treat, taking our viewers to places of truly outstanding natural beauty”.
Volunteers of the Mary Valley Rattler shared their stories of the railway, and the film crew was given access to both the C17 steam train and the RM76 Railmotor which provided passenger services on the line from 1928. It is currently used for services such as the Rattler Tasting Train.
Mary Valley Rattler general manager, Linda Barry, who attended a preview in Brisbane earlier this month, said the finished program was an exceptional opportunity to showcase the region and the heritage railway to a global audience.
“The UK market is renowned for their love of heritage railways and with international borders now open, showcasing the Mary Valley Rattler through this series will provide a great incentive for visitors to include Gympie on their Australian travel itineraries,” she said.
“We were fortunate to have beautiful weather for the filming, with the Mary Valley looking at its greenest and most attractive.
“Prior to Covid we had strong support from overseas markets, not just the UK, but also Europe and the Americas, which have deep connections to and affection for heritage train travel.
“The broadcast on SBS TV will help spread the word around Australia, too, just in time for the summer holiday period. We have a full range of services over the holidays, including an additional twilight service starting on 30 December, and next year we are going to announce a range of new services to target different markets.
“This is an incredible way to finish the year and welcome in 2023.”
Further information and bookings, visit maryvalleyrattler.com.au
